"JASON FISHER" from Footprints
Bio provided by author:
Youngest Fisher sibling Jason overcame numerous obstacles to develop a romance with his figure skating partner and childhood best friend, Courtney Chase. But it was after the two had developed a comfortable relationship that an unexpected event tested the young man. One night after a party, a drunken Jason was tossed into a bed with his friend Alex Marshall, who was equally soused. Alex made a sexual advance on Jason, who at first responded unconsciously but then woke up and rushed out. He and Alex wrote off the encounter as a drunken fluke. However, Jason could not help but be concerned when Alex began to pursue a relationship with Lauren Brooks, a good friend of Courtney and Jason. Plagued by memories of the encounter with Alex, Jason tried to rush Courtney into sex and nearly ruined their relationship. He has attempted to be supportive of Alex but tried to prevent him from hurting Lauren. Finally Alex confessed his homosexuality to Jason, who agreed not to say anything about it. Now Jason and Courtney have made their relationship more serious and recently made love for the first time. However, Lauren remains hung up on Alex, and the truth about Alex -- and his night with Jason -- threatens to be exposed. How will Jason cope with the revelation? Which of his relationships, if not all, will be shattered? And has he really kept Alex's secret purely out of loyalty?
JASON SCENE #1:
Submitted scene -- from Episode #202:
Alex's lips are soft, a little wet, as they crush against Jason's.
It takes Jason what feels like an eternity to realize exactly what is going on. And the moment after it registers, he jerks away from Alex.
"Whoa," Jason says, raising a hand to his lips. He looks directly at Alex and stops his hand from wiping his mouth. "Alex ..."
"Oh, God." Alex face goes cold. "Jason, I thought--I just--"
"It's okay," Jason assures him, fighting every instinct in his body that is shouting at him to let loose.
"I-I'm sorry. I gotta go." Alex snaps around and takes a step in the direction of the door.
Jason grabs his arm to stop him. "Alex, don't go."
Alex tries to tug his arm away. "Please, Jason -- just let me go."
"I-In a second. Alex, I just want you to know ... I don't want you to think that I hate you or anything. It's not--I don't. I know how confusing this must be, and how hard it must be for you."
The sentiment hangs in the air and Jason finds himself wondering how much more of a mess this could become. But finally, Alex looks up at him with soft, blue eyes.
"I support you, buddy," Jason continues. "I do. And I'm gonna try my best to help you through this."
Alex swallows hard. "Thanks." He pauses, as if he is going to say something more. But all he does is repeat, "Thanks." And he turns back for the door.
This time, Jason lets him go.
***
Jason has no idea how much time has passed, but he is still sitting on the couch, his head collapsed into his hands and his heart racing. When the doorbell rings, he hardly even hears it. It is distant, detached, something from a faraway place in which he has no interest.
The second ring hits him differently. It takes a moment to sink in, but as the chimes echo in his ears, something clicks. He is suddenly alert -- and aware that he has to deal with another visitor.
He hesitates in standing up to answer the door, but a call from outside convinces him to do it. "Jason! Jason, it's me!" comes Courtney's voice.
Something drives him to the door and he scrambles to open it. At the very sight of Courtney, he knows everything is all right: She is holding a bottle of champagne, smiling awkwardly, her rage from earlier this evening nowhere in sight.
"Hi," she says as they share a lingering stare.
"Hey." Instinctively Jason's hand goes up to the back of his neck. "What's up?"
Courtney seems to contemplate her course of action before taking a deep breath and proceeding. "I was thinking," she says slowly. "And maybe ... maybe you had a point before. Maybe I do need to butt out of this--this thing with Lauren and Alex."
A flood of relief washes through Jason. "Really?"
"Yeah. So I was thinking--" She steps into the house, nuzzling against his body and holding up the bottle of champagne. "--that maybe we could celebrate a little."
Jason furrows his brow, though there is nothing playful about the way he does it. "Celebrate?"
"Mm-hmm." She brushes her lips against his and feels his body tense up immediately. She draws back. "What's wrong?"
He just stares at her. "I, uh, I'm just surprised ... to see you. I wasn't expecting it, that's all."
"Oh." Courtney returns to the kiss, adding more intensity this time. Jason accepts it, but that is all he does.
Courtney pulls back again. "Are you still upset?"
He doesn't respond. He doesn't even meet her gaze.
"I'm sorry," Courtney says. "I know I get ... a little dramatic sometimes. But Jason, none of that should matter. Lauren and Alex, they shouldn't be a factor in our relationship. Our love is too important to mess up because of something like that."
Something like that. Jason ponders the bitter irony of her words but still says nothing.
"That's why, when I was thinking," Courtney continues, "I thought maybe it's time to make it more serious--to take it to the next level."
She looks to Jason for some sign that he is absorbing all of this and he nods lightly.
"I'm ready," she says, breathing the words right over his lips. "I want you to make love to me." Her lips return to his.
This time, she feels Jason responding. She pulls his body closer to hers and kicks the front door closed behind her. The kiss grows more passionate, more intense.
And then, suddenly, Jason tears himself away from her. "I can't do this."
"What?"
"I--we--we can't do this."
"Why not? Jason--" But the fight suddenly fades. She sighs, trying to find something in that face of his, the face she's known so well for so long. And all she sees is resistance.
"I'm sorry," he says weakly.
She gives him a puzzled look, already turning back for the door. "So am I."
He watches her leave without saying another word.